Forensic psychiatric screening reports – an update

Abstract

In 2007 we published a study of the prosecution authorities' responses to the recommendations of 419 forensic psychiatric screening (short/minor) reports with focus on whether full reports ought to be issued or not. We found that among the 118 screening reports recommending a full report, 59 (50%) was followed by the authorities. Nonrecommendation for a full report was followed in 98% of the cases. Since the prosecution authorities dismissed half of the positive recommendations, we questioned the value and the validity of such reports. Our conclusions, however, did not include the 32 cases that had not been finalized at the time of the study. Including these cases in the current report, we found that among the 118 positive recommendations to instigate a full report, 81 (69%) were followed by the authorities. We therefore modify our conclusion in the way that screening reports apparently are valid and fulfill their purpose.

Keywords:

• forensic psychiatry
• screening forensic reports
• full forensic reports
• forensic experts
• quality assurance
• court reports